Discover fiction and nonfiction books by Indigenous author and illustrators. Share these books with your young readers on Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 12, during Native American Heritage Month in November, and all year long! Plus, request a digital ARC of Firekeeper’s Daughter, the groundbreaking new thriller (coming in March 2021) from debut author Angeline Boulley!
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard; illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
Ages 3-6
★ 2020 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Winner ★
★ 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner ★
Told in lively and powerful verse by debut author Kevin Noble Maillard, Fry Bread is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family, vibrantly illustrated by Pura Belpre Award winner and Caldecott Honoree Juana Martinez-Neal.
Kevin Noble Maillard is also a regular writer and former contributing editor to the New York Times, with additional writings in The Atlantic, Essence, and The Week. He has provided on-air commentary for MSNBC, CNN, ABC, and Al Jazeera. Currently based in Manhattan, New York, he splits time between the city and upstate New York, where he is a tenured professor of law at Syracuse University. A graduate of Duke University and Penn Law School, he also earned a PhD in Political Theory from the University of Michigan. Originally from Oklahoma, he is an enrolled citizen of the Seminole Nation.
Juana Martinez-Neal is an illustrator of books for children, including the Pura Belpre Award winner La Princesa and the Pea. She made her authorial debut in 2018 with Alma and How She Got Her Name, which was awarded the Caldecott Honor. Juana was born in Lima, Peru, where she grew up surrounded by amazing meals prepared by her mom and amazing paintings made by her dad and grandad. She now lives, eats, and paints in Scottsdale, Arizona, surrounded by her amazing children.
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom; illustrated by Michaela Goade
Ages 3-6
Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption—a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.
★ “An inspiring call to action.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “An unapologetic call to action.” —Booklist, starred review
★ “A passionate call for environmental stewardship.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “A gorgeous and empowering picture book.” —BookPage, starred review
Carole Lindstrom is Anishinabe/Métis and is a proud member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe Indians. She was born and raised in Nebraska and currently makes her home in Maryland. She is the author of Girls Dance, Boys Fiddle.
Michaela Goade is an artist and graphic designer living and working in Juneau, Alaska, where she was also raised. Forever inspired by the coastal wilds of Southeast Alaska, she works to capture its magic and honor its vibrant cultures. Michaela is from the Raven moiety and Kiks.ádi Clan from Sitka, Alaska. She has illustrated Encounter (Brittany Luby) and Raven and the Tide Lady.
The Brave by James Bird
Ages 9-12
Perfect for fans of Rain Reign, this middle-grade novel The Brave is about a boy with an OCD issue and his move to a reservation to live with his biological mother.
★ “An amazing debut full of heart, authenticity, and courage.” —School Library Journal, starred review
★ “Endearingly earnest and with a refusal to shy away from the tough parts of life…this fresh and imaginative story has touches of Bridge to Terabithia and is perfect for fans of Wendy Mass…and Sherman Alexie. Bird, himself of Ojibwe descent, has written an exceptional #OwnVoices novel not to be overlooked.” —Booklist, starred review
James Bird is a screenwriter and director at the independent film company, Zombot Pictures; his films include We Are Boats and Honeyglue. A California native of Ojibwe descent, he now lives in Swampscott, Massachusetts with his wife, the author and actor Adriana Mather, and their son. The Brave is his debut novel.
Coming Soon!
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Ages 14-18
Available March 2, 2021
Debut author Angeline Boulley crafts a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community, for readers of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange.
As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. Daunis dreams of studying medicine, but when her family is struck by tragedy, she puts her future on hold to care for her fragile mother.
The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team. Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, certain details don’t add up and she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into the heart of a criminal investigation.
Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, but secretly pursues her own investigation, tracking down the criminals with her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home.
Now, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go to protect her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.
Angeline Boulley, an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is a storyteller who writes about her Ojibwe community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She is a former Director of the Office of Indian Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Angeline lives in southwest Michigan, but her home will always be on Sugar Island. Firekeeper’s Daughter is her debut novel.
